Method of waving hair



April 2, 1940. F, w 2,195,803

METHOD OF WAVING HAIR Filed April 23, 1934 3 fig 13;

INVENTOR fle/voza F. w/LLAT ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 2, 1940 rATENT OFFICE 2,198,808 mom-or wavmo nsm Arnold F. Willat, San Rafael, Calif. Avrlieati apni 2:, 1934, Serial No. 721,905

This invention relates to the art or waving hairupon the human head to produce sir-called per manent waves? While this-'art-ls well developed and even though-it is practised very'extensively.

l nevertheless present methods of w'avi'ng hair include certain disadvantages and subject the person whose hair is to be waved to certain hazards. These include the disadvantages and hazards of liability to steam burns, burning the hair to carban, and electrical shocks because of the high temperatures used in fixing the wave and because of'the common use of electricity as a heat generating medium, although steam and chemicals are also employed. f

The permanent waving art, as practised heretofore, has required that the person whose hair was to be waved be able to give several hours time for execution of the wave. During this entire period, the person was required to sit in a chair and to otherwise conduct themselves so that, except for procuring the wave, the time was virtually wasted. The present invention, in attaining itsobjects. obviates these disadvantages and hazards. Not only are the hazard of burns and shock obviated but the person is able to follow some useful pursuit for the period whenthewave in the hairiis being fixed.

It is the object of the present invention to avoid the difilculties,.and particularly those hereinbefore noted, which are inherent in the art of permanent waving as practiced heretofore and to provide a simple, safe and effective method ofwaving hair on the human head to obtain eifective waves and also to obtain curls. A further 85 object is to provide a very inexpensive method of permanent waving, one not requiring the expensive apparatus heretofore employed.

The invention includes other obiects and features of advantage in addition to the foregoing. 4 Some of these willappear in detail upon a study of the method of waving hair set forth hereinafter as the preferred present practice.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part hereof; 45 Figure 1 is a plan view of a device utilized with the present invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are side views showing a 'manner of winding hair on the device of Figure 1. Figure 2 showing one type of device and Figure 3 50 another.

Figure 4 is a side view showing another manner of winding.

Figure 5 is a view showing a device made up for finally waving hair. 5 In producing waves of the "croquignole" type,

wet before or after winding with a suitable lotion ii which softens the hair to a mild degree. Such lotions are usually water solutions having a pH on the alkaline side, mild alkalies being used individually or in combination. Such mild alkalis are the alkali metal sulfites or ammonium suliites 10 of the Kietz Patent No. 1,720,220, issued July 1929, or the borax of the Szlanyi Patent No. 1,400,637, issued'Decembr 20, 1921. Any protector or-heat pad is omitted. 1

While as means for winding the hair in spiral 15 any one of the numerous spindles and clamps of the prior art can be used, such as that typified in the Bonat Patent 1,921,802 of August 8, 1933, I prefer to use a more simple, inexpensive, and yet as eii'ective means asthat shown in the draw- 20 mg, wherein a member ii is bent in U form to have a base I! and legs I: and i4 extending parallel to each other.

The device H can be formed of any suitable material and I have successfully used those made 2 ton ll. Other successful devices were made from bare aluminum wire of a suitable size (Figure 30 as well as lighter wire 22 (Figure covered with .waxed paper or paper rope 23.

Other devices were made from paper, string and rope impregnated so as to be stifl but flexible, a suitable paint or' resinous impregnation being given the material to stiffen it if this was deemed necessary.

The wire or stiffening should be flexible and capable of taking a permanent set so that it can be used to lock the hair in wound form.

The end IQ of each strand 2| of hair is inserted between the adjacent legs l3 and I4 and the strand wound in either direction as appears in Figures 2 and 4 toward the scalp. When the wound strand lies against the scalp IS, the base u, and the ends of the legs i3 and n are bent over to secure the strand in wound form as in v Figure '5. Such a device is simple to manipulate, as well as inexpensive. The hair is not wound over sharp corners, but over well rounded edges so that smooth and even waves are secured. The 5 strand of hair should be kept flat and'even as it is wound.

The entire head, or only a portion thereof, as desired, is made up, a test curl being made if desired. Each individual wound strand can u then be encased in a lotion moistened cloth 'with a wax paper, Cellophane, or other moisture proof case so that the strands are kept moist and the head heat kept in. Preferably this is accomplished by wrapping all the scalp with a sheet of Cellophane so that the moisture is kept in. If desired an outer wrapping of cloth can be used such as a cloth cap.

The hair is preferably kept wet and wound for a period of about flve hours, although, since this depends on the individual, it may be greater or less. The wrapper on the head keeps in the heat of the scalp and the moisture so that the wound strands are subject to this action, and even when the head heat is not kept in, satisfactory waves are obtained, although a longer time period is required. This heat has never been utilized heretofore. In fact, in the practice heretofore, pads are placed between the hair and the scalp to cut off heat passage in either direction.

After the hair has been kept wet and wound for the requisite period, the covering, if any has been used, is removed and the alkaline lotion neutralized by a slightly acid rinse water. In this connection I have used a dilute tartaric acid, acetic or citric acid solution, and apply it for several minutes. The hair is then taken down mitted to dry while wound and then taken down and rinsed, or it can be rinsed and then permitted to dry while wound. The best results are obtained by use of the acid while the hair is still wound but, as has been indicated, this procedure can be varied and even omitted, and yet secure a satisfactory wave.

In place of using the body heat as the source or central heater, the head of the person can be wrapped in the Cellophane wrapper, or other moisture proof material, and hot air passed thereover, or the head placed in the range of a heater device. The temperature can thus be increased and the process hastened although it is not necessary at any time to use even an uncomfortable degree of heat as has been the case heretofore. Steamds never generated, and while the temperature may rise above that of the body. it does not even approximate that of steam in comparison.. It is to be noted that the whole scalp is preferably encased and vapor escape prevented so that the hair stays moist.

It is to be noted that since a relatively high temperature is not employed, the hairs are not subject to such extremes that split hairs result, something common with waving practice heretofore. Instead, the hair is softened and waved under such conditions that bursting'of the outer shell of the hair and burning thereof are obviated while a satisfactory wave, one lasting as well as a high heat wave and having a better appearance, is secured.

I have also found that hair can be softened by the use of the aforementioned softening lowill be apparent when it is pointed out that by applying a pomade, for example, before or after wetting the hair with a softening lotion, and

then combing, brushing or otherwise setting the hair in a desired shape, a permanent contour can be imparted to the hair. The pomade, or the like, holds the hair while it is softened so that the hair sets in a desired contour. Thus, a previous wave or curl in the hair can be removed if a person does not like it.

I claim:

1. A method of permanent waving hair on the human head comprising dividing the hair into compact strands, wetting the hair with a hair waving solution, winding each hair strand in coil form from substantially the end thereof to the scalp, as compared to the conventional practice wherein each hair strand carries a protector adjacent the scalp, securing each wound strand in coil form, and covering wound strands to retain said solution while subjecting said covered strands to a temperature of the order of body temperature as compared to the conventional practice of heating wound strands to generate steam therein to impart a permanent wave to said wound strand throughout the wound length thereof.

2. A method of permanent waving hair on the human head comprising dividing the hair into compact strands, wetting the hair with a hair waving solution, winding each hair strand in coil form upon itself in a coil having an internal diameter of the order of ,4; inch and from substantially the end thereof to the scalp, as compared to the conventional practice wherein each hair strand carries a protector adjacent the scalp, securing each wound strand in coil farm, and covering wound strands to retain said solution while subjecting said covered strands to a temperature of the order of body temperature as compared to the conventional practice of heating wound strands to generate steam therein.

3. A method of permanent waving hair on the human head comprising dividing the hair into compact strands, wetting the hair with a hair waving solution, winding each hair strand in coil form from substantially the end thereof to the scalp, as compared to the conventional practice wherein each hair strand carries a protector adjacent the scalp, securing each wound strand in coil form, covering the scalp in a wrapper to confine natural body heat and retain said solution while subjecting said covered strands to a temperature of the order of body temperature as compared to the conventional practice of heating wound strands to generate steam there- 1n.

4. The method of waving hair upon the human head which comprises dividing the hair into compact strands, wetting the hair with a hair waving solution, winding the hair strands and securing the hair in wound form, and subjecting the hair while wound to substantially only the natural heat of the head for a time sufficiently long to fix a permanent wave in the hair while said wound hair is wet with said solution.

5. The method of waving hair upon the human head which comprises dividing the hair into compact strands, wetting the hair with a hair waving solution, winding the hair strands and securing the hair in wound form, and subjecting the hair while wound to substantially only the natural heat of the head to fix a permanent wave in the hair while keeping the wound hair wet with said solution.

6. A process for imparting a permanent wave to hair upon the human head consisting in dividing the hair into compact strands, wetting the hair with a hair waving solution, winding the hair strands in coil form on the head and securing wound coils, and keeping the hair in said wound coils wet with said solution until a permanent wave is imparted. r

7. A process for imparting a permanent wave to hair upon the human head consisting in dividing the hair in compact strands, wetting the hair with a hair waving solution, winding the hair strands in coil form on the head andsecuring wound coils, and keeping the hair in said wound coils at about body temperature and wet with said solution until a permanent wave is imparted.

8. A method of waving hair comprising first wetting the hair in an alkaline solution; separately wrapping selected strands of the hair about a pliable core for each strand; covering each strand of hair with impervious wrapping; then allowing the hair to stand while so wrapped and covered until the body heat induces a permanent set in the hair.

9. A method of performing permanent waves, characterized by wetting the hair in an alkaline solution, wrapping selected strands of the hair about pliable cores having a paper covering substantially liquid-proof but absorbent enough to swell; covering each strand of hair with an impervious wrapping; then allowing the hair to stand while sowrapped and covered, relying solely upon body heat to induce a permanent setting of the hair.

10. A method of waving hair comprising first wetting the hair in an alkaline solution; separately wrapping selected strands of the hair about a pliable core for each strand; covering each strand of hair with an impervious wrapping; placing a covering over the wrapped plurality of strands to retain and concentrate body heat; then allowing the hair to stand while so wrapped and covered until the body heat induces a permanent set in the hair.

11. A process for imparting a permanent wave to a strand of human hair on the head comprising winding the strand in coil form and securing the wound coil, wetting the hair with a hair waving solution, and keeping the hair in said coil wound and wet with said solution and at a temperature common to both hair and scalp and comfortable to the scalp until a permanent wave is imparted to said strand.

12. A method of permanently waving human hair comprising wetting the hair with a hair softening lotion suitable for hair permanent waving, forming the hair into desired shape, and maintaining the shaped hair wet with said lotion and at a temperature common to both hair and scalp and comfortable to the scalp until a permanent wave is fixed in the hair.

13. A method of permanently waving hair on a human head comprising dividing the hair into compact strands, wetting the hair with a hair softening lotion suitable for hair permanent waving, forming the strands into coils, securing the coils against unwinding, maintaining hair in the coils wet with said lotion and at a temperature comfortable to the human body until a permanent wave is fixed in the hair.

ARNOLD F. WILLAT. 

